Social Sciences

| Peer-Reviewed |

Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga

Received: 03 July 2019    Accepted: 09 October 2019    Published: 13 April 2020
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

Kava drinking in kava clubs has become an intrinsic part of Tongan Pasifika culture. Perceived effects and reasons for kava consumption are not fully understood. This study explored these issues using the culturally safe, Pasifika qualitative research approaches of Kakala and Talanga. Group interviews were held with a convenience sample of 104 Tongan men across 10 kava clubs in Tonga and New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the interviews. Participants in both countries reported that kava use is socially sanctioned and easily accessible. Kava clubs provide an opportunity to learn about Tongan culture, socialise and are a safe way to relieve stress and boredom. However, kava consumption could reduce members’ productivity, contribute to ill-health and increase stress on family relationships. It is vital that kava use amongst Tongans is addressed in a way that deals with the negative impacts but protects its benefits. There is an opportunity to educate men about the health effects of kava. To enact this opportunity and solve this widespread issue, partnership between kava clubs, the church and the Tongan community is needed. A multi-agency engagement with kava club members and Tongan society may therefore be the best approach to minimize risks and optimize benefits of kava use.

DOI 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
Published in Social Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 2, April 2020)
Page(s) 56-60
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Famili, Faikava, Tasilisili, Kalapu Kava Tonga, Kakala, Kava, Kavaholic, Loulou, Talanga, Tou’a

References
[1] McDonald D, Jowitt A. Kava in the Pacific Islands: a contemporary drug of abuse? Drug and Alcohol Review. 2000; 19 (2): 217-227.
[2] Rychetnik L, Madronio CM. The health and social effects of drinking water‐based infusions of kava: A review of the evidence. Drug and Alcohol review. 2011; 30 (1): 74-83.
[3] Nosa V. Tobacco, alcohol, other drugs (TAOD) within the Pacific and within Pacific populations in New Zealand The 2014 AOD Provider Collaborative Research Symposium; 2014; Auckland, New Zealand.
[4] Pacific Research & Development Services, SHORE/Whariki of Massey University. Pacific drugs & alcohol consumption survey 2003. Final Report: Volume 1. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health; 2004.
[5] James K. Is there a Tongan middle class? Hierarchy and protest in contemporary Tonga. The Contemporary Pacific. 2003; 15 (2): 309-336.
[6] Kava R. The adverse effects of kava. Pacific health dialog. 2001; 8 (1): 115-118.
[7] Nosa V, Ofanoa M. The social, cultural and medicinal use of kava for twelve Tongan born men living in Auckland, New Zealand. Pacific Health Dialog. 2009; 15 (1): 96-102.
[8] Ministry of Health. Drug Use in New Zealand: Key Results of the 2007/08 New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey. Wellington: Ministry of Health. 2010.
[9] Stats NZ. 2013 Census ethnic group profiles: Tongan key facts. Profile and Summary Reports 2013; http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/ethnic-profiles.aspx?request_value=24711&tabname=Keyfacts. Accessed 10th April, 2018.
[10] Thaman KH. Culture and the curriculum in the South Pacific. Comparative education. 1993; 29 (3): 249-260.
[11] Ofanoa M. Loto'i Tonga: "A community development/health promotion model for Tongans living in urban areas". Auckland, New Zealand: Pacific Health, University of Auckland; 2009.
[12] Ofanoa M, Raeburn J. Adapting a community health development approach to the Tongan diaspora in urban New Zealand. The Journal of Pacific Studies. 2014; 34 (2): 5-18.
[13] Ofanoa S. “His Side of the Story”: Tongan Men’s Perception on Mo’ui lelei and their Priority Health Needs in South Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Pacific Health, University of Auckland; 2015.
[14] Thomas DR. A general inductive approach for analyzing qualitative evaluation data. American Journal of Evaluation. 2006; 27 (2): 237-246.
[15] Lafitani S. Australian Kava Movement for Fair Go: A new road map for kava laws in Australia. Australian Kava Movement Conference; August 7, 2011, Canberra, 2011; Pacific Institute of the Australian National University and Lo'au Research Society.
[16] Fehoko E. Social space and cultural identity: The faikava as a supplementary site for maintaining Tongan identity in New Zealand. New Zealand Sociology. 2015; 30 (1): 131.
[17] Fehoko E. Pukepuke fonua: An exploratory study on the faikava as an identity marker for New Zealand-born Tongan males in Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Social Sciences, Auckland University of Technology; 2014.
[18] Thompson R, Ruch W, Hasenohrl RU. Enhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava‐kava). Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. 2004; 19 (4): 243-250.
[19] Malhotra N, Starkey NJ, Charlton SG. Driving under the influence of drugs: perceptions and attitudes of New Zealand drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2017; 106: 44-52.
[20] Maneze D, Speizer A, Dalton N, Dennis S. A descriptive study of kava use among Tongan men in Macarthur, Sydney South West. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. 2008; 32 (4): 314-316.
[21] Port H. Kava: A longitudinal study into kava consumption and emerging patterns of kava usage with subsequent effects on Pacific families living in South Auckland. Auckland, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology; 2014.
[22] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization. Kava: a review of the safety of traditional and recreational beverage consumption Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization; 2016: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5770e.pdf. Accessed 27th Mar 2018.
[23] Kvale S. Dominance through interviews and dialogues. Qualitative Inquiry. 2006; 12 (3): 480-500.
Author Information
  • Department of Pacific Health, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

  • Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

  • Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

  • Department of Social and Community Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

  • Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

  • Department of Pacific Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Malakai Ofanoa, Stephen Buetow, Samuela Ofanoa, Peter Huggard, Janine Paynter, et al. (2020). Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Social Sciences, 9(2), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Malakai Ofanoa; Stephen Buetow; Samuela Ofanoa; Peter Huggard; Janine Paynter, et al. Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Soc. Sci. 2020, 9(2), 56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Malakai Ofanoa, Stephen Buetow, Samuela Ofanoa, Peter Huggard, Janine Paynter, et al. Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Soc Sci. 2020;9(2):56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13,
      author = {Malakai Ofanoa and Stephen Buetow and Samuela Ofanoa and Peter Huggard and Janine Paynter and Vili Nosa},
      title = {Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga},
      journal = {Social Sciences},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {56-60},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20200902.13},
      abstract = {Kava drinking in kava clubs has become an intrinsic part of Tongan Pasifika culture. Perceived effects and reasons for kava consumption are not fully understood. This study explored these issues using the culturally safe, Pasifika qualitative research approaches of Kakala and Talanga. Group interviews were held with a convenience sample of 104 Tongan men across 10 kava clubs in Tonga and New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the interviews. Participants in both countries reported that kava use is socially sanctioned and easily accessible. Kava clubs provide an opportunity to learn about Tongan culture, socialise and are a safe way to relieve stress and boredom. However, kava consumption could reduce members’ productivity, contribute to ill-health and increase stress on family relationships. It is vital that kava use amongst Tongans is addressed in a way that deals with the negative impacts but protects its benefits. There is an opportunity to educate men about the health effects of kava. To enact this opportunity and solve this widespread issue, partnership between kava clubs, the church and the Tongan community is needed. A multi-agency engagement with kava club members and Tongan society may therefore be the best approach to minimize risks and optimize benefits of kava use.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga
    AU  - Malakai Ofanoa
    AU  - Stephen Buetow
    AU  - Samuela Ofanoa
    AU  - Peter Huggard
    AU  - Janine Paynter
    AU  - Vili Nosa
    Y1  - 2020/04/13
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
    T2  - Social Sciences
    JF  - Social Sciences
    JO  - Social Sciences
    SP  - 56
    EP  - 60
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-988X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
    AB  - Kava drinking in kava clubs has become an intrinsic part of Tongan Pasifika culture. Perceived effects and reasons for kava consumption are not fully understood. This study explored these issues using the culturally safe, Pasifika qualitative research approaches of Kakala and Talanga. Group interviews were held with a convenience sample of 104 Tongan men across 10 kava clubs in Tonga and New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the interviews. Participants in both countries reported that kava use is socially sanctioned and easily accessible. Kava clubs provide an opportunity to learn about Tongan culture, socialise and are a safe way to relieve stress and boredom. However, kava consumption could reduce members’ productivity, contribute to ill-health and increase stress on family relationships. It is vital that kava use amongst Tongans is addressed in a way that deals with the negative impacts but protects its benefits. There is an opportunity to educate men about the health effects of kava. To enact this opportunity and solve this widespread issue, partnership between kava clubs, the church and the Tongan community is needed. A multi-agency engagement with kava club members and Tongan society may therefore be the best approach to minimize risks and optimize benefits of kava use.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections